Bandra violence: Police examine cctv footage

Two days after an Urs procession in Bandra turned violent over the alleged manhandling of a man by a police inspector, the Bandra police have begun examining the CCTV footage captured by four cameras installed near Lucky junction in Bandra (West) to find those involved in the rioting.

Two days after an Urs procession in Bandra turned violent over the alleged manhandling of a man by a police inspector, the Bandra police have begun examining the CCTV footage captured by four cameras installed near Lucky junction in Bandra (West) to find those involved in the rioting.

Senior inspector of Bandra police station Samad Shaikh said, “The CCTV cameras will help us identify those involved in the stone-pelting and damage to public property.”

Police said the trouble began around 10.30pm on Saturday during the passage of a procession to mark the Urs at the Mahim dargah. Shaikh said he and his staff were manning traffic on SV Road.

“A pedestrian was trying to cross SV Road through this traffic. I reprimanded him for trying to cross in a rash manner,” Shaikh said. This angered the man, in his twenties, who began shouting that Shaikh had held him in a way that insulted his religious sentiments. The commotion attracted a mob of more than 500 that demanded that Shaikh apologise to the man.

The police tried to pacify the crowd who began throwing stones. Seven policemen and six SRPF jawans were injured. Windowpanes of seven BEST buses were damaged, police said.

The irate mob entered a police beat chowkie and tried to set fire to it, but were stopped, police said. They set four police motorbikes on fire. The incident was brought under control after nearly 3 hours.